Back By Popular Demand

I am going to try to get back to blogging this year. I took a break last year at Coleman's request but he is "okay" with it again this year.

Quick update:
he started 8th grade this year
advanced math and science but doesn't care for reading or english
decided against playing in the band
playing football, of course
doing mixed martial arts
eating, eating, and more eating - he is just shy of 6' tall and weighs about 185 pounds

Chad started his fifth season at UofH and we are hoping for big things this season.

I am working at Shalom Health Ministry which is a non-profit clinic for those without insurance. I LOVE my job and am learning espanol as a bonus.

Plan for new pictures soon!!

Look out Junior High

Celebrating at Chuy's

Coleman loved the chocolate

He's not my "little" boy anymore!

Sixth grade is done. Coleman is out of middle school and on his way to junior high. Can you believe it? Only two more years until high school. He had such a great sixth grade year. He was on the A Honor Roll the entire year. He scored a perfect 100 on both the math and reading TAKS tests. He ended up getting the Academic Excellence Award. As if that wasn't enough, he also got the award for Best Trumpet Player in the Sablatura band. Most of his friends get money for grades but we have never done that. Don't feel bad for him - his grandparents always give him a card (with some money in side of course). We were so proud this year we decided to go out and celebrate. We let Coleman decide on where he wanted to go. We had a late lunch at Chuy's and then followed it up with desert at the Melting Pot (chocolate fondue). To top the evening off we went to see Land of the Lost. It was a great day for all of us. Now summer is here and he will be busy. Football camp at UofH for this week. Washington DC with my parents the two weeks after that. To Chad's parents in July for another trip. Then Pearland's football camp and school starts all over again. Somewhere in there we will have to squeeze in a birthday - the big 13.

Friends

Over the past month we have reconnected with some friends that were special to us at one time. Our lives lead us in different directions and ultimately different states and we lost touch with each other. It was great to find out that they are doing so well. Just last night a friend of mine that I met here our first year in Pearland but has since returned to Canada called to catch up and say she is coming for a visit next week and would like to get together. Today at work I thought about a great person I worked with in College Station but haven't talked to in years. Naturally, I googled her this evening and discovered she has done great things since I last saw her but I didn't stay in touch to find out. You are probably thinking okay that's nice but why are you writing about this. The reason I am stuck on this issue is that I frequently complain to Chad that I need some friends. I often feel like I am the friendliest person that doesn't have any friends. I am realizing now that I do have friends but I need to make more of an effort to stay in touch with them and keep the relationship going. Yes, we are all busy being moms, dads, coaches, PAs, whatever it is we do but sometimes it is nice to enjoy the company of friends. Chad is definetely my best friend but let's face it, he does not want to go see a chick flick with me. I am committing myself to being a better friend and keeping myself open to making new friends.

Back to the couch

After three weeks on the 5k training program I ended up getting tendonitis in my knees. A week of rest and Ibuprofen took care of it but unfortunately it took the wind out my sails. I haven't been able to motivate myself to get started again. Boy am I glad I didn't buy all those running clothes! If I am extremely honest with myself - I didn't like it anyway. For a long time I have been envious of people I see jogging through our neighborhood or participating in fun runs. I want to like it but I just don't. While I am sure many people don't enjoy exercising, I also know many people who do. It seems like I can be one of those people if I can just find the right fit. I hope so soon or my clothes may not find the right fit!! Until I hit on the thing that I just can't live without doing at least 30-45 minutes 5 days a week, I'm going to start walking again. I know all you strength coaches out there don't think the walking is intense enough - Chad has told me many times - but it has to be better than couch sitting. If anyone has found the perfect exercise let me know.

Chubby Dennis - from couch potato to 5K

I am writing this post to keep me accountable. Now everyone knows (at least the one or two people that actually read this) so I've got to stick with it! This week I started a new program called "From the couch to a 5K". For the past year I have been unable to motivate myself to exercise. I know, I know, I know how good it is for me. I tell patients all day long to exercise. I tell my son to exercise. Yet, I have not been able to get myself to exercise. I'm not exactly sure why because I've always been an active person. My theory of this lack of motivation is that my previous attempts at exercise did not work. That is, I did not lose weight which is what I was trying to accomplish with the exercise. I've tried a one year stint of "body pump" classes at Gold's Gym when we lived in College Station and lost only 3 pounds. I walked 2-3 miles on hilly terrain in Connecticut but didn't shed a pound. When we moved to Houston, I started jogging at least 5 times a week. Chad will attest to the fact that I was faithful to my program and even added the metabolic typing diet but again only lost 3 pounds. Which unfortunately does not add up to a total of 6 pounds because of course I had regained the original 3 that I lost with body pump. Frustrated is an understatement for how I felt. So I just stopped and ended up waffling back and forth with the same three pounds regardless of whether I exercised or not. I enjoy a good walk but had even stopped doing that. Last fall I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and started on medication. Correcting my thyroid along with following a yeast free diet has helped me shed 16 pounds. But guess what - I did not exercise one time. So you can imagine how I may not see the benefit in exercise if weight loss is my goal. Over this past week, I decided to change my goal. My goal is now to run a 5K instead of to lose weight. I need something to shoot for! I found this podcast I downloaded to my IPOD (Coleman's hand me down) called "Chubby Jones from the couch to a 5k" and started this week. It is a nine week program and I'm sticking to it. I'll let you know how it goes!!

Off Season Is Over - Yeah!!

Chad finished offseason workouts yesterday. Why does this make me so happy? The alarm won't be going off at 4:30 am anymore - at least not for a little while anyway. He is still training some guys for UofH proday which will take place on 3/28/09. For those of you who don't know about proday, it is a try out for professional football team scouts for the Cougars who have completed college football. Chad has been training these players for specific drills (40 yard run, bench press test, vertical jump, and others) for the last 8 weeks. He has put so much into it this year. Even making DVDs each week of each player doing the drills so they can review it and improve. I have to admit I'm ready for this to be over also because it takes him alot of time in the evenings to sort through all the video and edit for each player. I've seen so many clips that I could give a basic lesson on how to do the 5-10-5 drill. Stop laughing - I am not kidding. Even though this is extra work he really loves it and has alot of pride in his program. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed on ProDay that these guys impress the scouts.

I GOT FLOWERS AT WORK TODAY!! As busy as Chad has been lately, he surprised me at work with some beautiful flowers. I was shocked!! They are actually the same flowers we had in our wedding which really impressed me. Guess what - a total coincidence but that doesn't matter. I am still smiling. He'll get a little smooch tonight!

Finally - Monday nights are free

Coleman has finished his basketball season with 8 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie. He really has fun playing basketball and was not ready for the season to end. I, however, am happy to have Monday nights free from basketball practice. Especially since our favorite show of all time, 24, comes on Monday nights at 8 pm. I know it is terrible to place such importance on a TV show but we don't get out too often. As you recall he started basketball 2 days after football was over so there was really no break. I'm not sure how long our "down time" will last because he wants to try Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu which will probably be at least one night a week. It seems probable that Coleman will try out for basketball next year in junior high which is great because it keeps him in shape. Chad and I hope he decides to go for it. On another note, my son in now taller than me. I knew it was coming but it still feels weird. Every day brings us closer to him being a teenager and so far so good. He has his moments of "undeveloped frontal lobe" behavior but they are few and far between. I hope to add some new pictures soon.